A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat after a stand-off at a house in Stockton.

Police converged on Hartington Road after being alerted around 10am.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene along with paramedics and the area was sealed off.

Shortly after 12.30pm, a spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "Officers on Hartington Road have been stood down and cordons have been removed after an incident reported to police this morning was brought to a safe conclusion. 

"At around 10am, police received reports from members of the public that they were concerned for the safety of a man at an address, and that he had suggested that there may have been ‘suspicious items’ in the property.

"Emergency services attended the scene, cordons were put in place and people were evacuated from three houses – which is standard procedure following calls such as this. As a precautionary measure, bomb disposal experts were called to the scene and were satisfied that there were no items of concern in the building."

The Northern Echo:

A lone police van at the scene after the incident was resolved Pic: Alexa Copeland

Trained specialists spoke to the man in the address, who left the property safely after being arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat. 

Superintendent Mark Thornton, who led the operation, said: “Public safety is paramount when calls of this nature are made to police. I make no excuse for the resource put in place today, and hope that the level of professionalism and skill shown by emergency services in Cleveland makes the people of Teesside proud of the people who serve them.

“I would like to thank the public for their understanding as we dealt with the incident; policing on Teesside continues as normal.”

The 26-year-old man remains in police custody.